Protesters target coal criminals

Fifteen activists calling for a rapid conversion to renewable energy protested at the $2600-a-head Queensland Coal Conference 08 on June 16.

The coal conference inside the plush Stamford Plaza was focused on "expanding exports" and dealing with "labour shortages". Meanwhile, outside, the People's Renewable Energy Conference 08 discussed the need to phase-out coal — the fossil fuel with the greatest impact on climate change.

Not everyone supported the protest, however. "Billionaires for coal" held up placards that read: "Dig coal, forget climate change", and "Clean coal keeps me rich!".

The protesters, from Resistance, Friends of the Earth, the Australian Student Environment Network, the Queensland Environment Action Network and the Socialist Alliance, vowed to continue to challenge the climate vandals.

From GLW issue 756